3D Printers Poised to Reshape the Automotive Industry

With everything from food to houses now being printed by 3D printer, it should come as no surprise that a German engineering firm recently showed off a 3D printed concept car design at the Geneva Motor Show.

As Wired reports, the Genesis design concept offers proof that additive manufacturing–EDAG’s fancy term for 3D printing–can be used to make full-size car components.

Made from a range of materials and inspired by a turtle’s skeleton, the Genesis concept was built by creating a thermoplastic model of the complex interior; however EDAG says they could have also used carbon fiber to make the structure both stronger and lighter.

Though printing of this size is still years away, (due to both cost and scale) the design provides an exciting glimpse into the future of large-scale manufacturing.